Overview
While chemical and physical parameters must be met in order to correctly asses the health of a stream, the ecology of the watershed can speak volumes on the status of the stream that simply can not be evaluated by just the chemical and physical parameters alone. In Site 3A amphibians, fish, and insects were all observed in stream. On several occasions large catfish were detected in a small man made rock pool on the right side of the bank. Brownish algae was also another biological presence on Site 3A. Occasional heavy brown algae and light green algae were both observed. Site 3A water surface was determined to have an approximate 70% of its area shaded by vegetation.
Data Collected
Site 3A was also analyzed on the health of the surrounding trees. A risk assessment was conducted on 10 different trees chosen to accurately depict a sample set of the types of trees more abundantly seen on site. The USDA Community Tree Evaluation Form was used to grade 6 trees on the site's left bank and 4 on its right bank. The chart below is a synopsis of the calculated risk each of those 10 trees.
Tree #
Species
DBH
Defect Code(s)
Probability of Failure
Size of Defective Part(s)
Probability of Target
Other Risk Factors
Description of Other Risk Factors
1
CECA
55.88
PTA:LT, R, RGC
4
1
1
1
Grade change
2
ULAM
38.1
PTA:LT, R
4
1
2
1
Grade Change
3
PITA
97.79
PTA:LT
1
1
2
0
4
PITA
64.14
PTA:LT
1
1
2
0
5
LIST
63.5
PTA:LT
1
1
2
0
6
PITA
109.22
PTA:LT, R
1
1
2
0
7
ULAM
68.58
PTA:LT
4
1
2
1
WBU
8
ALJU
35.56
PTA:LT, WBU, R
4
2
2
0
9
ALJU
26.67
PTA:LT, WBU, RGC
4
2
2
0
10
COFL
48.26
RGC
1
1
1
0
Watershed Level Urban Ecology data can be found here.USDA Community Tree Evalutation forms can be found here.
Results
Each tree was individually evaluated and graded on its probability to fail based on the defects observed. For Long Island site 3A Poor Tree Architecture (PTA) was the defect detected most in the area. A large portion of the defects associated with this site were in regards to the erosion occurring on both bank sides. On a scale of 1-10 Long Island site 3 has a mean risk rating of a 5.6 which sets LI site 3 at medium risk for tree failure.
Long Island Creek Site 3AUrban Ecology
Overview
While chemical and physical parameters must be met in order to correctly asses the health of a stream, the ecology of the watershed can speak volumes on the status of the stream that simply can not be evaluated by just the chemical and physical parameters alone. In Site 3A amphibians, fish, and insects were all observed in stream. On several occasions large catfish were detected in a small man made rock pool on the right side of the bank. Brownish algae was also another biological presence on Site 3A. Occasional heavy brown algae and light green algae were both observed. Site 3A water surface was determined to have an approximate 70% of its area shaded by vegetation.
Data Collected
Site 3A was also analyzed on the health of the surrounding trees. A risk assessment was conducted on 10 different trees chosen to accurately depict a sample set of the types of trees more abundantly seen on site. The USDA Community Tree Evaluation Form was used to grade 6 trees on the site's left bank and 4 on its right bank. The chart below is a synopsis of the calculated risk each of those 10 trees.
Watershed Level Urban Ecology data can be found here.USDA Community Tree Evalutation forms can be found here.
Results
Each tree was individually evaluated and graded on its probability to fail based on the defects observed. For Long Island site 3A Poor Tree Architecture (PTA) was the defect detected most in the area. A large portion of the defects associated with this site were in regards to the erosion occurring on both bank sides. On a scale of 1-10 Long Island site 3 has a mean risk rating of a 5.6 which sets LI site 3 at medium risk for tree failure.
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